Skin Discoloration Types, Causes and Treatment

Our skin is our very first dress, and as modern humans, we know that we need to dress our best. But more often than not, people seem to have a hard time acknowledging the fact that the skin, as the largest organ in the body and as a complex living and breathing organism, needs proper care and attention.

While we might have to witness how, as a result of our own neglect, our skin takes a turn for the worse, we don’t have to watch silently as things go downhill. Thanks to recent technological advancements, we can now tackle our skin issues and look for the best solution to our skin problems.

One of these problems, and one that we’ll be dealing with in the present article, is skin discoloration. The good news is, just like any skin condition, it too can be treated painlessly and effectively with modern technologies such as Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) and the trusted Lumecca device. Don’t worry if this name doesn’t ring a bell; continue reading and you’re guaranteed to come to appreciate Lumecca and the IPL technology by the end of this article. Let’s begin with a definition of, and the underlying reasons for skin discoloration, and discover the areas where it is more likely to develop.

What is Skin Discoloration and What Causes it?

Just like any part of our body, our skin can go through many changes during our lifetime. It can change color due to a variety of reasons, including certain health conditions such as hyperpigmentation, in which patches of skin become darker, or hypopigmentation, which is characterized by areas of skin becoming lighter than the normal skin color. Skin discoloration is usually a result of a malfunction in melanin production, manifesting itself in the form of darker or lighter markings on the skin. As you might already know, melanin is a natural skin pigment determining the color of our eyes, hair, and skin. The amount of melanin produced by your body is what makes the color of your skin darker or lighter. An uneven distribution of melanin in the skin can lead to different color intensities, often appearing as patches, birthmarks and pigmentation defects, all of which fall under the same category: Skin discoloration.

There are, however, a variety of other factors that lead to skin discoloration: Sunburns, aging, hormonal changes, infections, burns, and skin pigmentation disorders such as melasma, vitiligo, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation, and albinism all play a role in making your skin look damaged, dull, and discolored.

Where Does Skin Discoloration Develop?

Skin discoloration can occur anywhere in the body; however, the most common areas where discolorations develop are the neck, hands, stomach, buttocks, and around the mouth.

Discoloration on the Neck

Any fluctuations in the melanin levels of the neck skin will lead to discoloration, which is commonly caused by one or more of these factors:

• Excessive Sun Exposure
• Hemochromatosis, or Iron overload
• Certain medications
• Ageing

Skin Discoloration of Hands

The skin on the hands is usually taken for granted. People often take care of their face rigorously, applying a myriad of products to moisturize, brighten, and protect their skin; but when it comes to their hands, well, they’re just too busy or too forgetful to pay attention to them. Needless to say, our hands are just as exposed to the sun as our face is, and failing to protect the delicate skin of the hands can lead to dryness, dark spots, and discoloration. There are of course other culprits at work when it comes to skin discoloration of the hands, for example:

• Injuries or burn marks can lead to discoloration due to hyperpigmentation
• Allergic reactions to certain drugs or medications can lead to the darkening of the hands
• Some medications such as hormone pills that contain estrogen, and antiepileptic drugs can cause skin discoloration on hands and trigger hyperpigmentation
• Eczema and Lichen Planus can cause discoloration on the hands
• Ageing

Skin Discoloration on the Stomach

The skin on the stomach is thin and sensitive, and it too is subject to discoloration. Skin discoloration on the stomach can occur as a result of a medical condition; however, the most common causes of discoloration on the stomach are:

• Sun exposure
• Personal hygiene
• Diet

Skin Discoloration between the Buttocks

Although the darker area between the buttocks is usually not a cause for concern, there are conditions such as irritation and inflammation that can lead to hyperpigmentation in that area. Skin trauma and irritation can lead to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and form dark spots on, or between the buttocks. The most common causes of such discolorations are:

• Folliculitis, an infection of hair follicles known as butt acne
• Friction caused by clothing or skin
• Irritation from skin treatments and procedures, or products such as some cleansers

Other factors that can contribute to hyperpigmentation include:

• Hormones
• Heredity
• Medications

Skin Discoloration around the Mouth

The skin around the mouth is another sensitive part of the body that is prone to skin discoloration and hyperpigmentation. Some of the most common causes of skin discoloration around the mouth are:

• Melasma: Also nicknamed “the mask of pregnancy,” it is a condition in which brown, or blue-gray patches appear on the face. Melasma is usually caused by hormonal changes in women, but it can also be a result of too much sun exposure. It can occur during pregnancy and while taking birth control pills and often fades on its own.
• Medications such as hormone replacement, doxycycline and chemotherapy drugs
• Sun exposure
• Trauma to the skin
• Vitamin deficiencies

Some of the other areas where skin discoloration can develop include the back, legs, arms, and chest.

What is the Treatment for Skin Discoloration and Hyperpigmentation?

The skin is indeed sensitive and susceptible to a variety of infections and traumas; however, thanks to the recent technological and medical advancements, there are ways to treat, or lessen the intensity or the side-effects of such complications; and skin discoloration is no exception. One of the best and most effective remedies for skin discoloration is the Photofacial treatment. This method involves utilizing the cutting-edge Intense Pulses Light (IPL) technology to accurately target pigmented tissues deep below the skin surface. The sessions are usually quick, and take no more than 20 minutes, making this procedure more efficient and faster than the conventional methods.

This treatment not only reduces the amount of discoloration, but also elevates collagen and elastin levels which lead to healthier and more youthful-looking skin. This procedure has no side-effects and does not cause any damage to the surrounding tissue.

The most trusted and widely used device for the Photofacial treatment is Lumecca, which uses IPL technology and is highly effective in targeting age spots, sun damage, rosacea, pigmentation issues (vascular lesions, port-wine stains, spider veins, freckles) and pigmented lesions.

The Lumecca IPL is better than other IPL devices out there because of the:

• Reduced number of treatments: 1-2 treatment sessions compared to 6-8 with standard IPL devices
• Reduced time for each session, thanks to a high pulse repetition rate and the ability to cover a larger area
• Strong cooling sensation thanks to the sapphire tip that eliminates the need for topical numbing
• Recovery time: The IPL does not cause peeling or redness of the skin after the treatment, which in turn eliminates the recovery time

Please note that most patients do not experience any side-effects. Any skin reactions that may appear, will usually resolve within a few hours.

Located in Beverly Hills, our clinic offers different packages for Lumecca treatment. So if you are tired of covering your discolored patches with various foundations and concealers, and wish to make your skin look and feel its best, do not hesitate to get in touch with our experienced experts. We have a solution for you regardless of what has caused the skin discoloration or where it has developed.

In our future posts, we will talk about different disorders that can lead to skin discoloration, and offer more details on how Lumecca works. We will also answer some of your frequently asked questions.